Open House Information (September 12)
Cum Laude for Class of 2025
Optional PSAT/NMSQT test for the Class of 2026
Student Life Updates
Grayslake Central
In this newsletter, you will find important information regarding:
Key Upcoming Dates
Sept 4 - Late Start
Sept 11 - Late Start
Sept 12 - Open House, 6:30pm
Sept 16 - Homecoming Window Painting
Sept 18 - Late Start; Powder Puff Football Games 6-10PM
Sept 19 - Golf Cart Decorating
Sept 20 - Homecoming Assembly; Homecoming Parade; Homecoming Football Game
Sept 21 - Homecoming Dance, 7PM
Sept 23 - 27 - Yearbook Picture Days
Sept 25 - Late Start; Data pull for Rams Passes at 6PM
Sept 26 - Mandatory Rams Block 10-12; Last Day for Semester 1 Level Changes
Sept 27 - Mandatory Rams Block 10-12
Oct 3 - Rosh Hashana - No School
Rams Passes: Grades 10-12
The first cycle of Rams Passes have been distributed! To leave a Rams Block after Advisory, students must be wearing their lanyard with both their student ID and blue ID card. Students in Rams Block periods 1 and 5 with a Rams Pass do not need to report until Advisory time, 9:25am (M/T/Th/F) or 10:10am on Wednesdays.
This Rams Pass is eligible through Wednesday, September 25th. Then we will have two days of mandatory 90 minute Rams Blocks where students will return their blue ID. New Rams Passes, in a different color, will then be distributed in Rams Blocks beginning Monday, September 30th.
Cycle #2 Important Dates
Data collected & reviewed between August 22 and September 25
Monday, September 23: Rams Pass Application opens
Wednesday, September 25
Rams Pass Grade Review, Grades 10-12pm, 6:00pm
Rams Pass Student Application Due, 6:00pm (formerly 11:59pm)
Thursday, September 26 and Friday, September 27: Mandatory Rams Block (full 90 minutes)
Monday, September 30th: new Rams Passes handed out
The important dates for the next cycle can always be found on our Rams Block + Advisory webpage.
Cum Laude Information for the Class of 2025
In the pursuit of our mission, and following our important departure from sorting students using class rank, we are excited to announce a new system of recognition that honors all students who meet high expectations. Honored students excel in the areas of dedication, character, volunteerism, responsibility, pride, and excellence while earning a high G.P.A. Students recognized for this achievement at Senior Honors and Awards Night will receive a special demarcation to wear on graduation day. Students can also add their Cum Laude status to college or employment applications.
Seniors, please visit the Cum Laude page for further information.
Juniors: Sign up for the optional PSAT/NMSQT exam!
This year the Preliminary SAT - National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is an optional test for students that would like to qualify for various commendations or scholarships. Only students who opt into the test will take it. The test will be administered during school hours on October 8, 2024.
The only way to participate in the PSAT/NMSQT is to complete the registration form by September 13, 2024. More detailed information was emailed home August 28th but can also be found here.
Transition News for Families
Seniors with IEPs and 504, some of you may plan on attending college after graduation. As application season commences, please take note that the disability/accessibility services that each school offers can vary greatly. When deciding on a college it is recommended to speak to that school's office of disability to determine if they can provide the services that are needed for your success.
For further questions about resources for individuals with disabilities, please reach out to Grayslake Central's Transition Specialist, Beth O'Hara, at eohara@d127.org.
Yearbook Information
Yearbooks are on sale now! They can be purchased directly from Jostens using this link. Personalization and senior ad options are also available.
ALSO! Picture day is coming! Total Image Photographics will take school portraits at GCHS during English classes the week of September 23-27. Your student will receive more information from their English teacher about the specific date of their picture.
Follow the yearbook on Instagram, @gchs_emerald, for more information about sales, ads, picture day, and important events. Please email advisers Maureen Ritter (mritter@dd127.org) or Jeff Fujiu (jfujiu@d127.org) with any questions!
Schoolinks and Parent Accounts: We use Schoolinks for course selection, career and college planning, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and more. Students not already onboarded will be early in the school year. Parents may also activate an account using the email on file with the school. Below is more information about Schoolinks and creating parent accounts.
This video (English, Spanish) provides an overview of the platform for guardians
SchooLinks is a tool that gives you access to the bigger picture of your student’s future. It also allows you to connect with their school counselor by messaging them directly through the platform. Your student will see all communications with a counselor through SchooLinks.
Refer to this document to see how to create your account.
Watch this video to learn how to use the platform.
To Login go to this webpage: https://app.schoolinks.com/login/member
Since accounts have already been built for Parents/Guardians using the emails you have on file with the district, choose either 1. “log in through Google” or 2. select “Forgot Password” and log in using the email you have on file with the district.
If you don’t know what email you have on file with the district, you can email helpdesk@d127 to ask what parent email you have on file with the school.
Varsity Tutors and Student Accounts: Through a partnership with Varsity Tutors, we can offer students a variety of academic support options at no cost, including 24/7 chat tutoring in Spanish or English in any subject, SAT and ACT prep, essay review, and celebrity-hosted on-demand courses, and more. This is only available to students with a D127 email.
A video describing how the chat feature works can be found here.
Directions for how students can access Varsity Tutors from their Chromebook or phone is here.
A flyer describing the various free services is here.
If you are having trouble logging in to Varsity Tutors using your school Google email, please email a help ticket to helpdesk@d127.org.
If you have questions about building-specific events, please call your high school main line. If you have questions about Schoolinks or Varsity Tutors, please email Tracey Landry, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching, Learning and Innovation, at tlandry@d127.org.
Jr/Sr Parent Presentation: Not able to attend last Thursday's Life After GCHS presentation for juniors and seniors? Check out the presentation and/or contact your student's counselor for more information.
Student Life
Homecoming! Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!
